Sample collector



Jan. 18, 1966 R. R. CALHOUN, JR., ETAL SAMPLE COLLECTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1964 1966 R. R. CALHOUN, JR., ETAL 3,229,525

SAMPLE COLLECTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1964 Jan. 18, 1966 R. R. CALHOUN, JR ETAL 3,229,525

SAMPLE COLLECTOR Filed Jan. 20, 1964 3 eBtS 3 United States Patent O 3,229,525 SAMFLE COLLECTOR Robert R. Calhoun, Jr., 6666 Cornelius St., and Robert R. Bram, 5905 Charles St., both of Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Jan. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 333,821 3 Claims. (Cl. 73-421) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) A non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the invention herein described, throughout the world for all purposes of the United States Government, with the power to grant sublicenses for such purposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States of America.

This invention relates to an apparatus for collecting samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a sample collector for use with vacuum dryers, especially moving-belt vacuum dryers.

Vacuum belt dryers designed for continuous operation have removable receptacles for collecting the product under vacuum, but have no convenient means for sampling the product and have no provision at all for collecting sample intermediate in the drying process. The latter feature is highly desirable, especially when determining operating conditions in drying a new material.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for collecting samples for a vacuum dryer without disrupting the vacuum. Another object is to collect samples at one or more points intermediate the sites of application and product removal. Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, in closed position, of the assembled apparatus minus the sampler tube;

FIG. 2 is a perspective View as in FIG. 1, except that closure is in open position;

FIG. 3 is an elevational side view of the apparatus with the sampling tube partially inserted in the mounted members, and with means of installing in wall of vacuum dryer along line 33 of FIG. 7 shown in cross section;

FIG. 4 is an end view taken from door end of apparatus, indicating alignment of tubes;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing apparatus assembled with door closed;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional View similar to that of FIG. 5 showing the apparatus assembled and sampler tube in position for collecting sample;

FIG. 7 is a partially cut-away perspective view of apparatus assembled as in FIG. 6 indicating apparatus mounted in vacuum dryer for collecting sample from moving belt;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view with part of tube removed of an embodiment of the sampler tube, and;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the closure and related mechanism.

In accordance with the present invention, the sampler comprises a first (outer) tube open at either end, a second tube extending through the first tube, a hinged closure at one end of the second tube, leverage means connecting the closure and the adjacent end of the first tube for opening and closing the closure upon rotation of either tube in relation to the other, means at the opposite end of said tubes for reversibly rotating one tube in relation to the other, a third tube adapted for removable extension through the second tube to collect a sample when the closure of the second is open, means at one end of the third tube for collecting a sample, means at the opposite end of the third tube to facilitate insertion, removal, and rotation of the third tube within the second tube, and substantially air-tight seals between first and second tubes, second and third tubes and end of third tube 3,229,525 Patented Jan. 18, 1966 "ice opposite sampling end to prevent access of air to vacuum chamber.

The above-described apparatus, together with other embodiments of the present invention, will be more readily understood by referring to the drawing and to the detailed description given below.

The sampler is housed in an outer tube 1 equipped at one end with an offset projection 2 for applying leverage through connecting rod 3, pin 3a, arm 4, hinge pin 4a, and actuated member 5 to which closure 6 is connected. The hinge 7 and seating 8 are rigidly alfixed to tube 9 which is longer than tube 1 and is located concentrically Within tube 1. At the other end of tubes -1 and 9 are ailixed handles 10 and 11, respectively. The handles provide means of reversibly rotating tubes 1 and 9 through a limited arc, the movement of projection 2 in relation to hinge 7 causing member 5 to be actuated, thus operating closure 6 through positions depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. The assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 is designed to be mounted in the wall 24 of a vacuum dryer with the closure end extending inside the dryer and located near the site from which collection of a sample is desired.

One or more air seals, such as an O ring or packing gland 21, are provided between tube 1 or the collar 3% thereof and tube 9. An air seal 22 is also provided between closure 6 and seat 8. Proper seating of closure 6 is facilitated by means of pin-and-spring mounting 12. Thus, in the closed position, as in FIG. 1, substantially no loss of vacuum occurs in the dryer although the end of tube 9 on the outside of the dryer is open to accept the sampler tube 13 as depicted in cross-section in FIG. 5.

For convenience in using the sampler tube, shown separately in FIG. 8, there is rigidly attached thereto a handle 14. A circumferential section of tube 13, up to about 180 and preferably an are between about and is removed from the end opposite the handle to provide a trough 13a for receiving the sample. A tiltable scraper blade 15 is attached so that the dislodged material falls into the trough. The location of the blade is determined by the direction of movement of the belt in a moving belt dryer. For convenience in collecting larger amounts of material Without removal of the tube from the dryer, a disc 16, attached to rod 17, is operated from outside the dryer by means of knob 18 to pull collected material into locations intermediate the collecting end and the closed end 19.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate two positions of the apparatus during its use to collect a sample. The operator inserts tube 13 into tube 9 and pushes on handle 14 until 0 ring 20 engages the inner wall of tube 9. Handles 1t and 11 are then operated to open closure 6. The combination of ring 20 and the closed end 19 with a packing gland 23 around rod 17 prevent entrance of air into the vacuum chamber while sampler tube 13 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 6 and while the sample is collected as depicted in FIG. 7.

After a sample is collected, the sampler tube is withdrawn within tube 9, but not to the extent that the air seal provided by O ring 20 is broken, handles Ill and 11 are operated to restore closure 6 to a closed position, and then sampler tube 13 is removed from tube 9. The sample is transferred to an appropriate container for testing or for storage until desired analyses to determine characteristics have been made.

Some advantages of the present apparatus are readily apparent. The closure 6 is quickly opened and shut by positive lever action. While the leverage exerted by projection 2 will tend to keep the closure 6 shut while in the closed position, air pressure will tend to force it open. Hence, it may be desirable to provide means for securing tubes 1 and 9 in a removably fixed position. Various means are available: a thumb screw 32 through housing for tube 1 to engage tube 9, or other friction devices, or a clamp (not shown) to secure handles and 11 is provided. The particular means is considered immaterial to the invention. Handles 10 and 11 are rigidly secured to collars 30 and 31, respectively, and the latter are rigidly secured to tubes 1 and 9, respectively.

In practice tubes 1 and 9 will be selected so that they telescope with minimum clearance. This obviates the need for bushings to align and support the inner tube for efficient operation of the closure mechanism although it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such modification may be made so that tubes of considerably different diameter may be used in constructing the apparatus. The sampler tube 13 must be of a small enough outside diameter to fit inside tube 9. The length of the tubes 1, 9 and 13 is primarily a matter of engineering design, although the O ring on tube 13 must be positioned so as to form an air seal with tube 9 before the trough end 13a engages closure 6.

Referring to FIG. 9, the hinge mount 7, .attached to tube 9, serves as the fulcrum for applying leverage to closure 6. Whereas the present lever consists of arm 4 and hinge pin 4a and actuated member 5, the latter being rigidly secured to the pin of 4a to prevent relative movement when assembled, parts 4 and 5 could be constructed as a unit, with corresponding changes in the design of the mounting 7 to allow for retention and pivoting on 7. Closure 6 is substantially self-sealing and, equipped with O ring 22, provides an effective air seal even when the chamber has been evacuated to only a few millimeters of mercury pressure. The fork of arm 4 must be wide enough to allow the sideways movement of connecting rod 3 as shown in FIG. 4. Whereas ball bearing connectors were used at the engaged ends of connecting rod 3, any construction to permit universal movement at junctures with arm 4 and projection 2 is applicable.

Scraper blade 15 is attached to the side of trough 13a which is farthest along in the path of the moving belt, as shown in FIG. 7 with this construction, samples can be collected from the underside of the belt. Loosened material falls by gravity into the trough of tube 13. Since the collecting tube can be readily rotated within tube 9, by replacing the scraper 15 shown with a scoop-like scraper (not shown) the apparatus may be used for collecting samples from the upper surface of a moving belt. The rod 17 and disc 16 are optional members of the apparatus, depending upon design of tube 13 and the size of sample desired.

Various means of mounting the apparatus in the dryer chamber wall 24 are available. A preferred mounting is a ball-and-socket type which permits ready movement of the sampler and allows a certain flexibility in area from which the sample is collected. As depicted in FIG. 3, a ball 25 was drilled to accept tube 1 and, after positioning, rigidly secured to the tube by soldering 26. A tapered opening of decreasing diameter was made in wall 24. The ball 25 and O ring 27 were placed in the opening and retaining ring 28 was rigidly secured by bolts 29. The ball permits movement of the sampler, and the O ring, with a gasket (not shown) between wall 24 and ring 28, if necessary, provides an air seal.

While the utility of the apparatus has been described in relation to collecting samples from a chamber having a pressure less than that of the location from which the apparatus is operated, it will be recognized that the apparatus is also operable when the pressure inside the chamber is greater than that outside the chamber.

Since modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for collecting samples from a first area at a pressure differing from that at a second area from which the apparatus is controlled comprising three telescoping tubes, a first, outer tube, a second tube extending through said first tube, a hinged closure at one end of said second tube, leverage means connecting said closure and the adjacent end of said first tube for opening and closing said closure upon rotation of either tube in relation to the other, means at the opposite end of said first and second tubes for reversibly rotating these tubes in relation to the other, a third tube adapted for removable extension through said second tube to collect a sample when said closure is open, means at one end of said third tube for collecting a sample, means at the opposite end of said third tube to facilitate insertion, removal, and rotation of said third tube within said second tube; substantially air-tight seals between said first and said second tubes, between said second tube and said third tube, and at the end of said third tube opposite sampling end; and means of mounting said apparatus at a boundary between said first area and said second area, said seals and said means of mounting substantially maintaining existing pressures while the apparatus is operated to collect a sample.

2. An apparatus for collecting samples from a first area at a pressure differing from that at a second area from which the apparatus is controlled comprising three telescoping tubes, a first, outer tube, a second tube extending through said first tube, a hinged closure at one end of said second tube, leverage means connecting said closure and the adjacent end of said first tube for opening and closing said closure upon rotation of either tube in relation to the other, handles aflixed at the opposite end of said first and second tubes, said handles projecting in a direction generally perpendicular to the horizontal axis of said tubes and providing leverage means for reversibly rotating said first and second tubes in relation to each other, means for securing said first and second tubes in a removably fixed position, a third tube adapted for removable extension through said second tube, sample collecting means at one end of said third tube, means at the opposite end of said third tube to facilitate insertion, removal and rotation of said third tube within said second tube; substantially air-tight seals between said first and said second tubes, between said second tube and said third tube, and at the end of said third tube opposite sampling end; and means of mounting said apparatus at a boundary between said first area and said second area, said seals and said means of mounting substantially maintaining existing pressures while the apparatus is operated to collect a sample.

3. An apparatus for collecting samples from a first area at a pressure differing from that at a second area from which the apparatus is controlled comprising three telescoping tubes, a first outer tube, a second tube extending through said first tube, a cylindrical fitting adapted to be in engagement throughout its inner circumference with the outer circumference of one end of said second tube, a substantially fiat face on the terminal end of said fitting, offset pivot means integral with said fitting, an arm member pivoted intermediate two ends on said pivot, a closure adjustably aflixed at one end of said arm member and adapted to circumferentially engage said flat face of said fitting to provide a substantially air-tight seal when the closure is removably abutted against said face, a second cylindrical fitting rigidly affixed to outer circumference of one end of said first tube, an offset projection integral with said second cylindrical fitting, a connector having a first and second end, the first end connected to said offset projection and the second end connected to the other end of said arm member, means for allowing angular movement in all directions by said connector, handles affixed at the opposite end of said first and second tubes, said handles projecting in a direction generally perpendicular to the horizontal axis of said tubes and providing leverage means for reversibly rotating said first and second tubes in relation to each other and actuate said closure, means for securing said first and second tubes in a removably fixed position, a third tube adapted for removable extension through said second tube, sample collecting means at one end of said third tube, means at the opposite end of said third tube to facilitate insertion, removal, and rotation of said third tube within said second tube, means at same opposite end of third tube to position collected sample material within said third tube; substantially air-tight seals between said first and said second tubes, between said second tube and said third tube, and at the end of said third tube opposite sampling end; and means of mounting said apparatus at a boundary between said first area and References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,760,655 8/ 195 6 Foskuhl.

FOREIGN PATENTS 398,091 7/ 1924 Germany.

LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner.

S. C. SWISHER. Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING SAMPLES FROM A FIRST AREA AT A PRESSURE DIFFERING FROM THAT AT A SECOND AREA FROM WHICH THE APPARATUS IS CONTROLLED COMPRISING THREE TELESCOPING TUBES, A FIRST, OUTER TUBE, A SECOND TUBE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FIRST TUBE, A HINGED CLOSURE AT ONE END OF SAID SECOND TUBE, LEVERAGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID CLOSURE AND THE ADJACENT END OF SAID FIRST TUBE FOR OPENING AND CLOSINGE SAID CLOSURE UPON ROTATION OF EITHER TUBE IN RELATION TO THE OTHER, MEANS AT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND TUBES FOR REVERSIBLY ROTATING THESE TUBES IN RELATION TO THE OTHER, A THIRD TUBE ADAPTED FOR REMOVABLE EXTENSION THROUGH SAID SECOND TUBE TO COLLECT A SAMPLE WHEN SAID CLOSURE IS OPEN, MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID THIRD TUBE FOR COLLECTING A SAMPLE, MEANS AT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID THIRD TUBE TO FACILITATE INSERTION, REMOVAL, AND ROTATION 